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By: Associated Press More than two dozen internationally adopted children live at the Ranch For Kids near the Canadian border. Many experience issues due to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder or behavior issues that stem from trauma or difficult conditions in orphanages. The ranch provides the children a structured environment and helps them develop skills to live with their families and in society. While the owner of the program argued it should be exempt from state oversight due to an exception in the law for adjunct ministries of local churches, District Judge Jim Wheelis ruled that the ranch is not exempt and must be licensed by the state. This ranch was under international spotlight last summer when Russian officials visited and demanded to check on the adopted children from Russia in care. By: Marjorie Cortez Many adoptive parents agree to open adoptions with certain understandings, expectations, and agreements with the birth families. These agreements between adoptive parents and birth parents are not always legally enforceable. SB 155, heard by the Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee, would change that with the goal of helping children achieve permanency with adopted families. While the Utah Council for Ethical Adoption voted to support this legislation, the National Council for Adoption opposes the bill as they believe enforceable agreements may have the unintended consequence of the child being used as a bargaining chip. By: Jordan Shapiro Missouri's incentive to adopt children from other countries could be coming to an end. Legislation that passed the Senate this week would eliminate a $2 million annual allotment of tax credits for parents who adopt children from outside of Missouri, leaving the tax break in place only for Missouri children. With over 10,000 children in the state of Missouri that need to be adopted, this tax break elimination promotes adopting children within the state and not outside. Missouri’s adoption tax credits would be restricted only to children with special needs. The Republic, February 2nd, 2013
FOSTER CARE
By: Marjorie Cortez A proposal before the Utah legislature would allow parents whose parental rights have been terminated to petition for reunification with their children under limited circumstances. The bill, SB49, directs the Utah Division of Child and Family Services to study the potential of reunification plans and report the findings to legislators later this year. The wishes of the affected children would weigh heavily in the decisions to reunify or not. Deseret News, January 31st, 2013 For Full Article Click Here
ADOPTION
By: Brooke Adams Utah is just one of two states that outright bans gays and lesbians from having rights to adopt a partner’s child. HB 214 would allow those in unmarried or same-sex relationships to adopt their partner’s child. The cohabitating adoptive parent would have to demonstrate a parental relationship with emotional and financial support. Although the bill has been snubbed in previous sessions, lawmaker and sponsor Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck, D-Salt Lake City, will continue to run the bill for the sixth consecutive year. Salt Lake Tribune, February 4th, 2013 For Full Article Click Here
 The preceding are summaries of adoption/child welfare law news articles prepared by The National Center for Adoption Law & Policy. These summaries are provided for your information only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Center. We strive to print news that reflects the diversity of our readership and a variety of viewpoints and approaches to child welfare issues. While we may not agree with a position taken, we believe in the critical importance to our constituents of impartial reporting. |
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